diff --git a/src/main/java/org/sagebionetworks/web/client/presenter/SearchPresenter.java b/src/main/java/org/sagebionetworks/web/client/presenter/SearchPresenter.java
index 9d3a6b6680..c4735213c9 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/sagebionetworks/web/client/presenter/SearchPresenter.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/sagebionetworks/web/client/presenter/SearchPresenter.java
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ private SearchQuery checkForJson(String queryString) {
       String fixedQueryString = queryString;
       // check for url encoded
       if (queryString.startsWith("%7B")) {
-        fixedQueryString = URL.decode(queryString);
+        fixedQueryString = URL.decodePathSegment(queryString);
       }
       if (fixedQueryString.startsWith("{")) {
         try {